Is the F-35 a USD 1 tn Mistake? The F-35 fighter was more to the US than its next hot new toy — for those unfamiliar with aircraft made famous by its vertical landing capabilities, we give you this gem of a demonstration (watch, runtime: 3:54). The plane was supposed to ensure the air supremacy of America and select allies for next 20 years. It was the top-level military hardware equivalent of the Swiss army knife: advanced sensory and maneuverability for better dogfights; stealth capability; fuel efficiency for long range missions; ground support. And it was meant to be one-size fits all — a core design which could be easily adapted to the needs of the Air Force, Navy and Marines. But the development of the jet, which began in the 1980s after Lockheed-Martin won a faceoff, is still ongoing. Cost overruns, late deliveries, and design flaws have caused many to doubt if the plane would ever be completed. The program could ultimately cost the US over USD 1 tn. Paul Barrett’s excellent feature for Bloomberg BusinessWeek looks into whether it will be worth it, and more importantly, why is the US adamantly clinging to the program to this day? (The story is a 30-minute read, so kick back and enjoy this one)